Umbrella



l) I f A. EENJAMIN UMBRELLA Filed Jan. 26. 1931 April 3, 1934.

#griff/011] Bmjamin f ML/m1 @Wma s s Patented pr. 3, 1935i ,UNITEDSTATES 6 Claims.

The present 'invention relates to umbrellas; and its object is,generally, to provide an-umbrella which may be folded and contractedinto very small space when not in use; and, more particularly, toprovide such an umbrella having an improved expansible and contractiblestem; and further, to provide improved means for hold-` ing the stemexpanded.'

These and any other and more specific objects hereinafter appearing areattained by, and the invention finds preferable embodiment in; theillustrative umbrella structure particularly described in the body ofthis specication and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which1Figure 1 is a View of the stem or stick of the umbrella in extendedposition;

Figure 2 is a View of some of the parts seen in Figure 1, certainthereof being axially sectioned and partially broken away;

Figure 3 is an axially sectional fragmentary view of parts of theumbrella stem;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View thereof taken on line 4 4 ofFigures 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is an axially sectional View of parts of the stem;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional View thereof taken on line 6-6 ofFigure 5;

Figure '7 is an axially sectional view of parts of the stem;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional View thereof taken on line 8 8 ofFigure 7;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional View thereof taken on line 9 9 ofFigure 7;

Figure 10 is an axially sectional view of parts of the stem,illustrating a somewhat modied construction;

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional View thereof taken on line 11-11 ofFigure 10;

Figure 12 is an axially sectional View of parts of the stem,illustrating a somewhat modified construction;

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional View thereof taken on line 13-13 ofFigure 12.

In the drawing is illustrated an umbrella whose stem or stick is adaptedto be extended and its cover spread to the position of use, andcollapsed and folded into an extremely compact condition when not inuse.

The stem of this umbrella comprises a plurality (seven in theillustrated construction) of telescoping tubular members 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, the member l being a plunger slidable in member 2.

The stem member 6 is held positively in extended position by itsoutwardly pressing catch 52 which abuts on the upper edge of the loweststem member 7, (the handle portion of the stem) this catch being pressedinwardly by hand to release it. (See Figures 7, 3.) In the expandedposition of the stem, its members are held positively against fartherexpanding movement by the inwardly pressing catches 53 of the lower oneof a pair thereof abutting on the lower edge 59 of an opening 54 in theupper member of said pair. This construction is particularly shown inFigures 2, 7 and 9.

These catches 53 in Figure 2 are sprung outwardly to release them by anelement 551 contacting their inner vsurfaces and slidable in saidopening 54, in the stems longitudinal direction, Y said element 551bearing at its side edges on the opposite sides 56 of the opening andthe sides 56 being slightly inclined downwardly-inwardly that is, towardthe lower end of the stem and toward itsv central axis. This element 551etc. is shown in Figures 2, 3, 5 and 10, and is slid downwardly 75 andinwardly on its inclined side bearings 56 by the action of a stillhigher slidable member (as member 3 in Figure 10) whose lower edge 60striking the ledge 58 of said element moves it l downwardly against thepressure of a spring 57.

A coiled form of this spring is shown at 571 in Figure 12. In Figure 2however the element 551 is not spring-pressed, but is slid upwardly byits inwardly extending lug 62 being struck by the bottom 63 of anopening 64 in plunger 85 member 1; and to press catch. 53 outwardly torelease it, element 551 is slid downwardly, by its said lug 62 beingstruck by the top 66 of opening 64 in the downward movement of plungermember 1.

In Figures 3 and 5 there is no movable member like said 551, but themember 55 on whose top ledge 58 the catch 53 engages is a part of thewall of the upper stem member, the catch being a part of the lower stemmember. When the upper stem member (3 in Figure 3 or 4 in Figure 5) isslid downwardly the inclined outer surface of its lower end engaging theinner surface of the catches 53 spring them outwardly and oil of theledge 58.

A rod 67 may be provided for preventing the separation of stem members,as shown in Figures 2 and l2. It is very evident that such a tubulartelescoping element as this umbrella l stick or stem, with like catches,etc., may be employed for many uses and in many connections other thanas shown.

The invention being intended to be pointed out in the claims, is not tobe limited to or by details of construction of any particular embodimentthereof illustrated by the drawing or hereinbefore described.

I claim:

1. In an umbrella of the character described: a stem comprising a pairof telescoping members, one of them having a catch movable intoengagement with the other one of said pair to hold said members againstrelative movement in one longitudinal direction, one of said pair havinga bearing inclined from the axial direction of the stem; and an elementslidable in said bearing and on the catch into engagement with the catchto release the same.

2. In an umbrella of the character described: a stem comprising a pairof telescoping members, one of them having a catch movable intoengagement with the other one of said pair to hold said members againstrelative movement in @ne longitudinal direction, one of said pair havlnga bearing inclined from the axial direction of the stem; and an elementslidable, by the relative movement of said members, in said bearing andon the catch into engagement with the catch to release the same.

3. In an umbrella of the character described: a stem comprising a pairof telescoping members, one of vthem having a catch movable intoengagement With the other one of said pair to hold said members againstrelative movement in one longitudinal direction, one of said pair havinga bearing inclined from the axial direction of the stem; and an elementslidable against spring pressure in said bearing and on the catch intoengagement with the catch to release the same.

Il. In an umbrella of the character described: a stem comprising a pairof telescoping members, the lower outer one of them having a catchspringing inwardly into engagement With the upper inner member of saidpair to hold said members against separating movement, the upper innermember of said pair having a bearing inclined toward the lower end ofthe stem and toward its axis; and an element slidable, by the movementof said members in stem-expanding direction, in said bearing and on thecatch into engagement with the catch to release the same.

5. In an umbrella of the character described: a stem comprising aplurality of telescoping members including a pair thereof, one member ofsaid pair having a catch movable into engagement with the other memberof the pair to hold said pair of members against relative movement inone longitudinal direction, the other member of said pair having abearing inclined from the axial direction of the stein; an elementslidable in said bearing and on the catch into engagement with the catchto release the same; and a third telescoping member of the stem movablelongitudinally into engagement with said element to slide the same intocatch-releasing position.

6. In an umbrella or the character described: a stem comprising aplurality of telescoping members including a pair thereof, one member ofsaid pair having a catch movable into engagement with the other memberof the pair to hold said pair of members against relative movement inone longitudinal direction, the other member of said pair having abearing inclined from the axial direction of the stem; an elementslidable in said bearing and on the catch into engagement with the catchto release the same; and a third telescoping member of the stem movablelongitudinally into engagement with said element to slide the sameagainst spring-pressure into catch-releasing position.

ANTHONY BENJAMIN.

